A huge range of insects such as horseflies and bees are joined by rarer species restricted to the salt marsh habitat, such as the cleg fly and the nationally scarce leaf beetle. How many different insects can you count?
Over on the inter-tidal areas you can see several ephemeral pools, flooded at high tide. Naturally the tides are a big influence here, with striking differences between the high and low water marks of spring and neap tides.
The Farms
You can see the land of two farms from the walk - Mwche Farm which is privately owned, and Pentywyn which is owned by the National Trust. Within the estuary the riverbanks are an extensive area of coastal grazing made up of marsh and saltmarsh, while the main 'improved' land is on the higher ground, comprising mostly of arable crops and grazing.
The salt marsh at Mwche is an integral part of the farming system, providing summer and winter grazing for beef cattle and sheep. This in turn benefits the natural inhabitants, as many of the waders and wildfowl prefer grazed rather than ungrazed marsh.
As you follow the path towards Mwche farm you will come accross three distinctive oak trees on your right. The presence of these trees is currently under debate as they serve as roosts for predators such as crows, who are prone to raiding nearby curlew nests for eggs and chicks. What do you think? Should the trees be cut down, or should they stay?
As you move further down the path you will see a straight raised bank on your left, which again testifies to the impact of man in the area. This is a sea wall, built during the 17th century to hold back the advancing tides and encourage the use of the land for agriculture.If you follow the path you will find yourself at a country road on your right, coming up to Cwmkelin. Travelling right the road will take you to Llanybri and on to the St Clears by-pass, or back to Llansteffan, where you can return to your embarkation point. Again this is a public highway so take care.
Have fun!
With special thanks to Brian Hancock, National Trust Warden for Carmarthenshire. Brian was our guide for this walk and let us in on the species, habitats and stories that make this area so special.Getting there: You can reach Llansteffan on the B4312 from Carmarthen, or on minor roads via Llanybri. Bus 227 operates daily from Carmarthen. There is a beach car park at Llansteffan with an information board, and a sea-facing café / shop. Bear in mind the route of the walk is not circular, but you can follow the minor roads from the end of the walk back to Llansteffan, or simply re-trace your steps - there's certainly enough to see! Don't forget to take appropriate gear dependent on the weather, and remember as with most country walks in the summer there can sometimes be lots of airborne insects around.
Click here for a map of the area.
 |
 |
Have you done this walk or one like it? Are there any other walks or journeys you think we should cover? Have you seen any interesting species out on a country walk, or seen something puzzling or unusual you'd like to quiz our Nature Experts about? Email us or have Your Say.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Ask an Expert!
Which bird is the fiercest fighter or furthest flyer? Experts from RSPB Cymru answer your bird life questions. More ...
|
|
|
|
